Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot, Kamal Nath, Bhupesh Bhagel were sworn in as chief ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on Monday amid a show of the Opposition unity. DMK chief MK Stalin was among the Opposition leaders, who attended the inauguration ceremonies a day after backing Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate ahead of the national elections due next year.

Rumblings of discontent have begun to surface within the Congress against the continuation of the grand alliance the party formed with three others ahead of the December 7 assembly elections in Telangana. The TRS swept the polls winning 88 out of 119 seats. The Congress won 19 out of the 100 seats it contested. Its alliance partner, the TDP, won two seats.